Court Martial: UPDF officer admitted at Bombo army hospital
Aug 06, 2014
The former commander of the 343 battalion of the Ugandan military contingent in Somalia has been admitted at Bombo army hospital in a critical condition
By Pascal Kwesiga
The former commander of the 343 battalion of the Ugandan military contingent in Somalia has been admitted at Bombo army hospital in a critical condition.
Lt. Col. Benson Olanya, who is diabetic, according to military sources, was transferred from Makindye military facility to Bombo army hospital in Luwero district last week after his condition deteriorated.
Olanya is among over ten senior UPDF officers facing trial over crimes they allegedly committed in Somalia where Uganda has peacekeepers under the auspices of the African Union.
Olanya is battling charges of sexual harassment, fuel theft, offences relating to guard duties, abuse of office and violence to his juniors and failure to execute his duties since last October. His attempts to secure bail have been futile so far.
The Military police spokesperson, Capt. Geoffrey Burushana, said Olanya who has a long history of diabetes was referred to Bombo hospital by doctors at the military police headquarters.
Brig. Michael Ondoga, the ex-commander of the Ugandan troop contingent in Somalia, who has also been in detention since October underwent a surgical operation at Bombo army hospital in May.
He has been denied bail several times. The deputy chief of defense forces, Lt. Gen. Charles Angina, said at the handover ceremony of the outgoing court martial chairman in Makindye on Friday “May be their cases were tricky. But they will get bail,” Angina served as court martial chairman in 2011.
It’s not clear when the trial of the senior officers will resume because the General court martial is currently trying suspects linked to the July 5 attacks on police and military facilities in Bundibugyo, Kasese and Ntoroko districts.
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